Gurpa: Maha Kassappa awaiting Maitreya's arrival

Maha Kassappa smiling at the lotus flower/Wikipedia

33 km from Gaya, the small village of Gurpa or Gurpada is home to the Kukkutapadagir mountain where Maitreya, the future Buddha, will return and receive the robes of the Buddha, kept with the latter’s successor, Maha Kassappa who is still in a state of meditation here. Before his death, the Buddha had given the robes to Maha Kassappa under whose presidentship the first Buddhist Council was held in the Magadhan capital of Rajagraha (modern Rajgir). 

Legend has it that when Maha Kassappa sensed that his life was nearing its end he decided to proceed to Kukkutapadagiri. During his journey to Gurpa, he withstood all the obstructions and the three peaks of the Kukkutapadagir mountain parted ways resulting in the creation of a seat for him. Since then Maha Kassappa is awaiting the arrival of Maitreya who will descend to this world in order to share the message of the Buddha with the mankind. 

Today Gurpa is a major Buddhist pilgrimage centre. Such is the popularity of the place that followers of Buddhism in other parts of the world have created Gurpada in their own native countries.  

How to reach Gurpa

Rail: Though Gurpa has itself a railway station on the Grand Chord line, the nearest major railway station is Gaya which is 33 km away from Gurpa. Gaya is well connected by rail with major places and cities in the country.  

Air: Patna is the nearest airport connected by air from major cities of India.

Road: It's a long day trip from Gaya to Gurpa. Good roads connect Gurpa with all the important places in India.

Best Time to visit

In summers, from April to June, the temperature of Gurpa hovers between 45°C and 30°C and it is quite hot during that time. The winter season, from October to March, is the best time to visit Gurpa. 

Dihing Kinar Bangali: Buddhist monastery in Assam

                                                Dihing Kinar Bangali monastery

Emphatically not to be missed while you're in the state of Assam is a visit to Dihing Kinar Bangali, also known as Nam Phake village, - easily managed as a day-trip from Dibrugarh.

Set in the midst of a picturesque landscape, Nam Phake village near Naharkatia in the Dibrugarh district of the state is home to the Namphake monastery, one of the oldest and most venerated Buddhist monasteries of the region. 

Established in 1850, the monastery boasts a library that is a treasure trove of hundreds of manuscripts. A few of the manuscripts called Lik-Kham are of pure gold.

Located along the banks of the Buridehing river, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra, Nam Phake village is home to the Mongolian tribes known as Phakials or Tai-Phakes who arrived in Assam in 1850 from the Hukawang Valley of Myanmar and are a branch of the Tai-Ahom race that ruled Assam for six centuries. Assam  is home to some nine Tai-phake villages. The inhabitants of these villages are Buddhists and speak a dialect similar to the language in Thailand. 

How to reach Nam Phake 

Air: The nearest airport to Nam Phake is at Dibrugarh which is about 60 km away from the place Dibrugarh airport is contented by flights with Guwahati and Kolkata. 

Rail: The nearest railway station to Nam Phake is Naharkatia which is connected with Kolkata and Chennai.  However, Dibrugarh is the major railway station which is 66 km from Naharkatia which is 6 km from Nam Phake. 

Road: Nam Phake is well connected by a good network of roads with all major cities and places India. 

Best Time to Visit Nam Phake

The climate of Nam Phake remains pleasant all round the year. Hence it can be visited anytime. However you should visit the place from October to March which is the best time to visit Nam Phake. 

Champanagar: Buddhist Pilgrimage Site in Bihar

Champanagar in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar is a site of great significance for the Buddhists. The place is deeply associated with the life of the Buddha. It was one of the six greatest cities during the time of the Buddha and served as the capital of the kingdom of Anga, one of the 16 Mahajanapadas. Anga was annexed to the Magadhan empire by Bimbisara in the 6th century BC.

The Buddha paid several visits to Champanagar where he preached his several important discourses including Sonadanda Sutta and Kandaraka Sutta.  It was here in Anga where Sariputta, Buddha’s famous disciple, preached Dasuttara sutta in presence of the Buddha himself.

                                        Sariputra with Buddha/Wikimedia Commons

Champanagar finds mention in the accounts of Chinese traveler Fa-hsien who came to India in the fifth century AD. According to him, monasteries in Champanagar were full of spiritual activities.  

Named after the queen Gaggara, the Gaggara's Lotus Lake is a main highlight of Champanagar. Sitting on the bank of the lake will provide you peace of mind.

 

How to Reach Champanagar

Air: The nearest airport to Champanagar is Patna that is connected by flights from major cities of India.

Rail: The nearest major railway station is Bhagalpur which is connected to major places and cities in India.

Road: Champanagar is well connected by road to Patna, Bhagalpur and other places in India.

 

Best Time to visit Champanagar

The best time to visit Champanagar is during its winter season, which lasts from December through February.

 

Itkhori, Buddhist Destination in Jharkhand

                                                        Bhadrakali Temple, Chatra

60 km from Bodh Gaya, Itkhori in the Chatra district of Jharkhand is the site of some of the finest specimens of the Buddhist remains. 

                                Bhadrakali temple at Itkhori / Image credit
    

Located some 150km from Ranchi, the place is home to the famed 7th century AD Ma Bhadrakali temple on the premises of which is situated a five-feet high votive or wish-fulfilling Buddhist stupa with 1,008 figurines of the Buddha carved on it. The stupa is worshipped by the Hindus as Koteshwarnath Temple. 

Itkhori is a holy site to Jainism too. 

What makes Itkhori a unique Buddhist site is the presence of smiling Buddha idols which are not to be found elsewhere in the world. Numerous Buddha statues in different forms have been discovered in Itkhori.

Legend has it that the Buddha had come to Itkhori. When his aunt reached Itkhori searching for the Buddha who had renounced the mundane world and was meditating here, she did not find him and left the place with heavy heart by saying Iti Khoi, which in Pali means "we lost him here". It was from these two words Iti Khoi that Itkhori derives its name. 

How to Reach Itkhori

By Air 

There are no regular flights from other major cities of India to Itkhori. Nearest airport is Ranchi Airport which is 60 km away. 

By Rail

Chatra can be easily approached from Gaya Railway station (Bihar) and Koderma Railway station. Gaya is well connected to other major cities of the country via regular trains. It takes some two hours from Gaya to reach Itkhori 

By Road

You can easily get regular buses to Itkhori from several places in Jharkhand and Bihar.  

Best time to visit Itkhori 

With extreme temperatures in summers and winters, Itkhori generally has a temperate climate throughout the year. In summers, from March to June, the temperature hovers between 40°C and 30°C. The winter season, from October to February, is the best time to visit Itkhori when daytime temperatures are pleasing.

It is pertinent to note that it can get very cold in the months of December and January.

Japanese Peace Pagoda, Darjeeling

                                     Japanese Peace Pagoda/Darjeeling

The glistening, white-domed Peace Pagoda has been a landmark in Darjeeling since 1992. The edifice was built in by monks and nuns belonging to the Nipponzan Myohoji sect of Nichiren Buddhism. Nichidatsu Fujii (1885–1985), who founded the religious movement of Nipponzan Myohoji which means "Japanese Mountain Dharma Temple", laid the foundation stone of the pagoda in 1972.

Nipponzan Myohoji has constructed more than 70 peace pagodas in different parts of the world. They exist all around the world mostly in Asia but also in Europe and North America. Born in 1885, Nichidatsu Fujii founded Nipponzan Myohoji in 1924. 

Located on the slopes of the Jalapahar hills of Darjeeling, the Peace Pagoda which is 28.5 metre high has the four incarnations of the Buddha including the Maitreya Buddha.

How to reach Japanese Peace Pagoda

Air: Bagdogra airport near Siliguri in West Bengal is the nearest airport to the Japanese Peace Pagoda which is 80 km from Siliguri.  From the airport, you can hire a taxi that will take you to the Japanese Peace Pagoda. 

Rail: The nearest railway station to the Japanese Peace Pagoda is New Jalpaiguri (NJP) in West Bengal which is 86 km from the place. NJP railway station is well-connected to major cities and places in India including New Delhi and Kolkata. 

Road: Good motorable roads connect Japanese Peace Pagoda with all the major places in Darjeeling. 

Best Time to visit Japanese Peace Pagoda

October to March is the best period to visit Japanese Peace Pagoda. 

Lalitgiri: Odisha’s Buddhist complex

                                                        Lalitgiri/Wikimedia Commons

Arguably, India’s greatest contribution to the world is the Buddha. India is the country of origin for Buddhism. Today, the Buddhist shrines are not only concentrated mainly in the Indian states of UP & Bihar but also in the eastern state of Odisha.  

One famous Buddhist destination in Odisha is Lalitgiri. This archaeological site is the treasure trove of extensive Buddhist remains dating from the 3rd century BC to 15th century AD. A visit to this Buddhist site will take us to exquisite temples, stupas, and monuments set in an ambience of serenity of the Mahanadi basin.

Large brick monasteries, statues of Buddhists deities including Avalokitesvara and Maitreya, colossal image of Buddha, the remnants of a chaitya hall and votive stupas are some of the finds at Lalitgiri which, needless to say, occupies a place of prominence in the history of Buddhism in Odisha. Bodhisattva images produced at Lalitgiri rival the best in India.

How to Reach Lalitgiri

Air: Nearest airport to Lalitgiri is at Bhubaneswar, 100 km from this place.

Rail: Nearest railway station to Lalitgiri is Cuttack 70 km from this place. Cuttack is connected with all major cities and places of India.

Road: Lalitgiri is located on the NH 5A. Patharajpur is the nearest bus stop. Several buses ply between Cuttack and Paradeep via Pathrajpur. You can find autos at Patharajpur to reach Lalitgiri which is 158kms and 165kms from Puri and Konark respectively. 

Best Time to visit Lalitgiri

With extreme temperatures in summers and winters, Lalitgiri should be visited between October to March when you can find daytime temperatures pleasant.

Mindrolling Monastery, Dehradun

 

Situated in Clement Town in Dehradun in Uttarakhand, Mindrolling Monastery is a centre of spiritual activity for the Tibetan Buddhist community. Set up in 1965, the monastery enshrines 60m high Great Stupa and is adorned with beautiful murals and paintings. 

Mindrolling Monastery, which follows the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, was founded by Khochhen Rinpoche who escaped to India during the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959. The monastery has a 35m-high gold statue of the Buddha.

The monastery also houses Ngagyur Nyingma College, which promotes literary studies of Tibetan Buddhism.

How to reach Mindrolling Monastery 

Mindrolling Monastery is accessible through rail, road and air.

Air: The nearest airport to Mindrolling Monastery is at Jolly Grant at Dehradun is connected with flights to major cities of India.

Rail: The nearest railway station to Mindrolling Monastery is Dehradun which is well connected by rail to almost all the major cities in India.

Road: Mindrolling Monastery is well connected to the major cities and places in India. Some of the cities that are well connected with Mindrolling Monastery are Delhi (235kms), Agra (381kms), Jaipur (493kms), and Lucknow.

Best Time to Visit Mindrolling Monastery

Visitors can visit Mindrolling Monastery all round the year, still the beast period to visit the Mindrolling Monastery in Dehradun is during the months of October to June.

Nalanda: World famous Buddhist monastery

Nalanda|Wikimedia Commons

Nalanda in Bihar is known for the ruins of the world famous Buddhist monastery which served as a great centre of learning in the ancient India. 

Established in 5th century AD during the Gupta period, the University of Nalanda was the Buddhism’s most famous teaching centre which attracted students and pilgrims from far-off countries including China and south-East Asia. 

The renowned Chinese traveller Hiuen-Tsang who visited India in the 7th century AD and studied at the university describes Nalanda as full of intellectual activity. According to him, in order to get themselves admitted to the University the students had to pass a strict oral examination. Apart from the doctrine of Buddhism, the Vedas, Hindu philosophy, Hetu Vidya (logic), Shabda Vidya (grammar) and Chikitsa vidya (medicine) were also taught at the university. 

Places of attractions in Nalanda

Nalanda University Complex

The university provided free education to some 10,000 students whose expenses were met by the revenues of one hundred villages as well as donations given by the patrons including the great Indian ruler Harshvardhan. 

The Nalanda monastery also enjoyed the patronage of the Pala rulers. During the rule of Dharampal, the greatest of the Pala, the glory of the monastery attained its zenith. It was as a result of efforts of the missionary monk Padmasambhava that Tibet was converted into Buddhism in the 8thcentury AD. 

Nalanda Stupa

Nalanda Stupa is one of the striking architectural remains of ancient India. The stupa was successively enlarged seven times. It was originally a tall stupa raised on a high base, with the steps leading up the terraces. Originally there was a small stupa at each corner. However, the structure underwent many alterations during the course of time.

Nalanda Archaeological Museum 

Nalanda Archaeological Museum was established to preserve and showcase the antiquities retrieved from the excavations in the area. The museum houses Buddhist bronze statues, stone inscriptions, copper plates, coins and potteries found among the ruins here. 

How to reach Nalanda

Air: The nearest airport to Nalanda is at Patna that is connected by flights to major cities in India. Patna is 95 km from Nalanda. 

Rail: Rajgir, 15 Km from Nalanda, is the nearest railhead that is well connected by rail with major places and cities in the country. From Delhi you can board the Sramjeevi Express train which will take you to Rajgir from where you can find several means to travel to Nalanda.

Road: Good motorable roads connect Nalanda to different places in Bihar. Some of the major road distances are: Patna (95 km), Gaya (79 km) and Bodh Gaya (103km).  

Best time to visit Nalanda

In Nalanda temperatures in winters and summers are extreme. October to March is the best time to visit Nalanda. 

Nelakondapalli: Buddhist site in Telangana

22 km from Khammam town in the South Indian state of Telangana is situated the famous Buddhist destination of Nelakondapalli which boasts an imposing Maha Stupa. The place, where Buddhism was in a flourishing state in the bygone era, attracted scholars and philosophers from across South Asia in the ancient times.

In the ancient times, Nelakondapalli was known for producing images of Buddha. Excavations at the site in 1970s, 80s and 90s have unearthed viharas, bronze idol of Buddha and other Buddhist relics dating back to 3rd and 4th century AD.

Karukonda is another famous Buddhist site in the Khammam district Telangana. 

How to Reach Nelakondapalli

Air: The nearest airport to Nelakondapalli is Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh which is 99 km from this Buddhist site in Telangana. You can find taxis and other means of transportation from the airport to reach Nelakondapalli. 

Rail: The nearest railway station to Nelakondapalli is Khammam which is 22 km from this well-known Buddhist site in Telangana. One can get buses and taxis to reach Nelakondapalli from Khammam.

Road: A good network of road connects Nelakondapalli to all the major places in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Government buses ply at regular intervals from Nelakondapalli to Hyderabad. 

Best time to visit Nelakondapalli 

Temperature is extreme in summers. Hence, winter is the best time to visit Nelakondapalli as the weather remains pleasant. 

Soak in the sacred energy of Phensang Monastery

Located in one of the most incredible landscapes, Phensang Monastery is a Buddhist site of immense significance for spiritual seekers in Sikkim. Belonging to the Nyingmapa sect, the monastery was established in 1721 by the 3rd Lhatsun Jigmed Pawo (1682-1735). 

Built several times during its history, Phensang Monastery was rebuilt in 1840 to accommodate more number of monks. It is one of the six largest monasteries in Sikkim in terms of number of monks residing here.  As things stand today, the monastery plays host to some three hundred monks. 

In 1947 a fire engulfed the Phensang monastery which was rebuilt in the following year.  The monastery also underwent reconstruction in the subsequent decades. 

Festivals

During the 28th & 29th days of the tenth month of the Tibetan Calendar which usually falls in the last week of December, the Phensang monastery comes alive with excitement. Kagyad dance performed by the Buddhist monks two days before the Sikkim’s New Year symbolizes the destruction of evil of the previous year and embrace of the peace and prosperity in the next year.

How to reach Phensang monastery

Air: Bagdogra airport near Siliguri in West Bengal is the nearest airport to Phensang monastery and is some 130 km away from Phensang monastery. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or a private cab that will take you to the Phensang monastery. 

Rail: The nearest railway station to Phensang monastery is about 156 kilometres away in New Jalpaiguri (NJP) in West Bengal. NJP railway station is well-connected to major cities and places in India including New Delhi and Kolkata. From NJP you can take a taxi to reach Phensang 

Road: Good motorable roads connect Phensang monastery with all the major places in Sikkim and India. 

Best Time to visit Phensang monastery 

October to June is the best period to visit Phensang monastery. If you want to see the Kagyad dance performed in the monastery you will have to come in the month of December. 

Sana Caves of Gujarat

Located in the Somnath Gir district in Gujarat, Sana Caves is one of the most famous and earliest cave groups in India. Here are no less than 62 rock shelters constructed from 1st century BC to 1st century AD.

As the cave shelter became small for its occupants a new cave was excavated nearby and the complex of caves grew over the period of time. The Sana Caves belong to this genre. The largest of the cave is Bhima-ni-Cori, also known as Cave 2. This is cut 21 meters deep into the rock and is the same general pattern as that at Talaja in the Bhavnagar district in Gujarat.

Sana Caves are artificial caves carved of rocks and excavated for religious purposes for the Buddhist monks. They are testament to the influence of Buddhism in Gujarat. 

 

How to reach Sana Caves 

Air: The nearest airport to Sana Caves is at Rajkot that is connected by flights to major cities in India. Sana Caves is 188 km from Rajkot.

Rail: Veraval, 7 Km from Sana Caves, is the nearest major railhead that is well connected by rail with major places and cities in the country.

Road: the site of Sana Caves is well connected by road with other places in Gujarat.

 

Best time to visit Sana Caves

Winter season which lasts from October to March is the best time to visit Sana Caves. The temperature remains pleasant during the period.

 

Sanchi: Crowning Glory of early Indian sculpture

46km from Bhopal in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh is situated the world famous Buddhist site of Sanchi the remains of which are among the finest relics of early Buddhism dating from 3nd century BC. The Great stupa at Sanchi is hailed as the crowning achievement of early north Indian sculpture.

Much of the Pali canon of the Sthaviravadin sect of Buddhism is from the great monastery in the UNESCO listed world heritage site of Sanchi. Located within a radius of 20 km Sonari, Satdhara, Andher and Mural Khurd are home to the ruins of ancient Buddhist stupas.

Places of attractions

The Great Sanchi Stupa 

Today the Great Sanchi Stupa survives to be awe-inspiring spectacles for the pilgrims and tourists who throng to them. It is a massive hemisphere of about 120 feet in diameter.  Towards the end of the 1st century BC four glorious gateways (torana) were added at the four cardinal points. The stupa was enlarged to twice its original size in the 2nd century AD. Lesser stupas and monastic buildings surround the great stupa. 

The Sanchi gateways, carved with great skill, are more remarkable for their carved ornamentation than their architecture. Carved with a several figures and reliefs, each gateway consists of two square columns, above which are three architraves supported by massive elephants or dwarfs, the whole reaching some 34 feet above ground level. The architraves are covered with panels depicting sense from the life of the Buddha and Jataka stories. The finish is remarkably good and the carvings are among the fresh and vigorous of the Indian sculpture. 

The Ashokan Pillar

Erected by the Greatest Maurayan emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC, the Ashokan pillar, located in the vicinity of the Southern gateway of the Great Stupa is a fine specimen of the Indian architecture and art in ancient times.   

How to Reach Sanchi 

Air: The nearest airport to Sanchi is Bhopal which is 46 km from the place. You can find taxis and other means of transportation from the airport to reach Sanchi. However, if you go to Sanchi via Raisen you will have to cover 78 km. 

Rail: Sanchi has a railway station that lies on the Jhansi-Itarsi section of the Central railways.  However, the nearest major railway stations to Sanchi are Vidisha and Bhpal which are 10 km and 46 km away. One can get buses and taxis to reach Sanchi. 

Road: A good network of road connects Sanchi to all the nearby places including Bhopal, Vidisha and Raisen which are, in turn, connected by roads with other places in India. 

Best time to visit Sanchi 

During summers the temperatures are extreme in Sanchi. The best time to visit Sanchi is from October to March. 

Tashiding Monastery: Holy water to predict the future

Located on a hilltop the Tashiding monastery was built in 1717 by Ngadak Sempa Chembo during the reign of the third Chogyal of Sikkim, Chakdor Namgyal. One of the holiest and oldest monasteries in Sikkim, Tashiding features beautiful carvings of the sacred texts and Buddhist deities on the stone tablets.

On the premises of the Tashiding monastery are a number of ornately carved shrines and many stupas dedicated to the saints.  The Buddhist mantra ‘Om Mane Padme Hum (hail the jewel in the lotus) is carved almost everywhere. 

Festival

Bhumchu is the most sacred festival associated with the Tashiding Monastery. During the festival the sealed vessels (tings) are opened to predict the prosperity of Sikkim. This is done by measuring the level of the waters which were put into the vessels one year before. The waters are from Rathong river in west Sikkim. Bhumchu is held every year in the month of February.  

How to reach Tashiding monastery

Air: Bagdogra airport near Siliguri in West Bengal is the nearest airport to Tashiding monastery. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or a private cab that will take you to the Tashiding monastery. It is a four hour drive from Siliguri to Tashiding. 

Rail: The nearest railway stations to Tashiding monastery is New Jalpaiguri (NJP) in West Bengal. NJP railway station is well-connected to major cities and places in India including New Delhi and Kolkata. From NJP you can take a taxi to reach Tashiding. 

Road: Good motorable roads connect Tashiding monastery with all the major places in Sikkim and India. 

Best time to visit Tashiding Monastery

Though anytime is good time to visit the Tashiding Monastery, best to visit it is in the month of February when the monastery plays host to the Bhumchu festival. 

Tawang: Seat of the Gelupa sect of Buddhism

About 25km from the McMahon Line that constitutes the boundary between India and China at the height of 3,500 metres above sea level is located Tawang which is dotted with several old monasteries, chief of which is the 336-year-old Tawang monastery, the focal point of any visit to this Buddhist dominated town in Arunachal Pradesh. 

The Tawang monastery, world's second largest monastery complex after Drepung Monastery in Tibet, was founded by Mera Lama Lodre Gyasto in 1681 AD and is the seat of the Gelupa sect of Buddhism. Its beautifully decorated prayer hall, accessible through narrow alleys houses an 8m-high Buddha statue.

The Monastery has a big library with a notable collection of ancient Buddhist texts books and manuscripts. From the Tawang monastery, one can enjoy stunning views of the Tawang -Chu valley. The monastery attracts visitors in large number who come here to catch a glimpse of the monks’ way of living as well as to see them performing prayers and traditional rituals.

Come to Tawang during the Buddhist festivals of Losar (Tibetan New Year), Torgya and Buddha Mahotsava festivals and this ancient monastery comes alive with the spectacular mask dance called the 'Cham'. 

Another important monastery in Tawang is Sangeyling Gompa which is a center for Buddhism, its teachings and culture.  Urgelling Monastery in Tawang is the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama, the only Indian to have acquired this exalted status.

How to reach Tawang

By Air: The nearest airport to reach Tawang is Salonibari Airport in Assam’s Tezpur, located at a distance of 319 km from here. However Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, 480 km from Tawang, is a more important airport connected to the major cities in India.

By Road: Tawang is 440 km from Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, and buses ply between these two places. 

By Rail: The nearest railway station to Tawang is at Naharlagun, which is connected by rail to major cities and places in India including New Jalpaiguri, Kanpur, Lucknow, Gorakhpur and New Delhi. Naharlagun railway station is 15 kilometres from Itanagar.

Best time to visit Tawang

The best time to visit Tawang is during autumn and summers when temperature ranges between 5°C and 30°C.

Sirpur, A Buddhist Destination Waiting to be Discovered

Located on the banks of the Mahanadi River in the state of Chhattisgarh, Sirpur is a famous Buddhist destination that is still waiting to be discovered. In ancient times Sirpur served as the capital of Dakshin Kosala and was a great centre of Buddhist learning between the 6th and 10th centuries. The Chinese monk and scholar Hieun Tsang is believed to have visited the place in the 7th century AD.

According to Hieun Tsang, Sirpur was a home to hundred Buddhist monasteries inhabited by over 10,000 monks from South east Asia professing Mahayana form of Buddhism. Discovery of conch bangles seems to suggest the presence of Buddhist nuns in the viharas. 

The excavations at the site have unearthed important Buddhist sites and artifacts including 10 Buddhist visharas and a metre-high monolithic statue of Buddha in the "Bhumisparsh mudra", dating back to the 6th century. Another big find is the Buddhist Stupa built by Ashoka. Tradition is that the Buddha himself had visited Sirpur. 

The 7th century AD Laxman Temple is one of the most renowned structures in Sirpur.  Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple is one of the finest specimens of brick temples in India. 

Kanchipuram, Ancient seat of Buddhism

                                         Bodhidharma/commons.wikimedia.

Kanchipuram in the southern state of Tamil Nadu was a great seat of Buddhist learning and culture in ancient India. Around the beginning of the Christian era it was as famous as Varanasi and Taxila. Among the famous Buddhists connected with Kanchipuram was the 28th Zen Patriarch Bodhidharma as well as famous Buddhist commentators Buddhaghosa and Dhammapala.

Bodhidharma had travelled to China to spread the Dhyana culture of Mahayana Buddhism.

In the seventh century AD Kanchipuram was visited by the renowned Chinese traveller, Hieun Tsang who found there a large monastery whim attracted scholars and philosophers from across the country.

A five-and-a-half feet Buddha image dating back to the 9th century AD was discovered in Kanchipuram.

How to reach Kanchipuram

Air: The nearest airport to Kanchipuram is Chennai which is connected by flights with major cities in India and the world. Chennai is 71 km from Kanchipuram.

               

Rail: Kanchipuram is connected by rail with Chennai via Chingleput.        

Road: Kanchipuram is well connected by regular bus services to various places in South India including Chennai, Bangalore, Chingleput, Tiruttani, Tirupati and Vellore etc.

 

 

Ghoom Monasteries

            Yiga Choeling Monastery, Ghoom/Wikipedia

If you want to soak in sacred energy of spiritualism and mysticism in an incredible natural setting, Ghoom in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal is the place to be. 

At an altitude of 8,000 ft, Ghoom is home to a number of monasteries. Chief among them is the Yiga Choling Gompa or Ghoom Gompa as it is popularly called. The monastery comes lauded as the largest in the region. Established in 1850, the Ghoom monastery belongs to the Yellow Sect of Buddhists. Its major highlight is a huge 15-ft tall statue of Jampa or Maitreya Buddha. Maitreya Buddha represents the cult of the future Buddha. 

The beautifully sculpted halls of theYiga Choling monastery are adorned by thangkas and murals. Here you will find ancient palm leaf and paper manuscripts including the Buddhist Tibetan Gospel in 108 volumes. 

Located in close proximity to the Yiga Choling Gompa are the monasteries of Sakya Guru Gompa and Samten Choling Gompa which has a colossal image of the Buddha. 

How to reach Ghoom monastery

Air: Bagdogra airport near Siliguri in West Bengal is the nearest airport to the Ghoom monastery which is 8 km from Darjeeling which, in turn, is 80 km from Siliguri.  From the airport, you can hire a taxi or a private cab that will take you to the Ghoom monastery. 

Rail: The nearest railway station to the Ghoom monastery is New Jalpaiguri (NJP) in West Bengal which is 86 km from the place. NJP railway station is well-connected to major cities and places in India including New Delhi and Kolkata. From NJP you can take a taxi to reach Ghoom monastery. 

Road: Good motorable roads connect Ghoom monastery with all the major places in Darjeeling. 

Enchey monastery

Located on a beautiful hill top on the northern outskirts of Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, the Enchey monastery commands spectacular views of the town and the Kanchenjunga peak. Established in 1840, it is the seat of the Nyingmapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Tradition has it that the famous tantric and lama Lama Druptob Karpo who had acquired flying power actually flew here from Maenam hill in South Sikkim and built a hermitage here for performing meditation.

Enchey monastery's prayer hall is adorned with beautiful murals and houses a statue of Buddha as well as other Tantric statues. 

You can see the monks performing prayers and traditional rituals. The Enchey monastery is at its exuberant best during its Chaam dance also known as the mask dance usually held in December.  Only lamas can participate in Chaam. 

How to reach Enchey monastery

Air: Bagdogra, 9 km west of Siliguri in West Bengal, is the nearest airport to Enchey monastery and is some 124 km away from Enchey monastery. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or a private cab that will take you to the Enchey monastery in two hours. The drive from Bagdogra to Enchey monastery is a bewitching experience with River Teesta and scenic mountains as the backdrop.  

Rail: The nearest railway station to Enchey monastery is about 150 kilometres away in New Jalpaiguri (NJP) in West Bengal. NJP railway station is well-connected to major cities and places in India including New Delhi and Kolkata. From NJP you can take a taxi to reach Enchey monastery or go to Siliguri Bus Station and board a state-run bus to Gangtok. From Gangtok you can hire a taxi or cab. 

Road: Well-maintained roads connect Enchey monastery with all the major places in Sikkim and India. 

Best Time to visit Enchey monastery 

October to June is the best period to visit Enchey monastery. If you want to see the Chaam dance performed in the monastery you will have to come in the month of December when temperature drops to an average low of about 4°C.  

Bomdila Monasteries

Bomdila, a Buddhist-dominated town in West Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh, is known for its Buddhist monasteries. Most spiritually significant among the monasteries in Bomdila is Gentse Gaden Rabgyel Ling which came into being in 1965.

Located at 8500 feet above sea level the Gentse Gaden Rabgyel Lling (GRL) is the largest monastery in Bomdila and a replica of the Tsona Gontse monastery in South Tibet.

A famed centre of Mahayana Buddhism in Arunachal Pradesh, Gentse Gaden Rabgyel Ling monastery comprises a prayer hall where monks perform prayers, a Buddha temple and residential quarters for the Buddhist monks. The wall hangings in the prayer hall are feast for the eyes.

How to reach Bomdila

By Air: The nearest airport to reach Bomdila is Salonibari Airport in Assam’s Tezpur, located at a distance of 160 km from Bomdila. However Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, 342 km from Bomdila, is a more important airport connected to the major cities in India.

By Road: Bomdila, situated nearly 180 km from Tawang, Bomdila is connected with many places in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Buses ply between Tezpur and Bomdila.

By Rail: The nearest railway station to Bomdila is at Tezpuur, which is connected by rail to major cities and places in India.